Can-soldering machine



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Gan Soldering Machine.

No. 237,650. Patented Feb. 8,188h,-

(No Model.)

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W. A WIGKS. I Can Soldering- Machine. NO..237,-650. I Patented Feb. 8,1881.

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. W. A. WICKS.

Can Soldering Machine. No. 237,650. r Patented Feb. 8,1881.

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U IT D STATES PATENT Oriucn.

WILLIAM A. WIOKS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CAN-SOLDE'RING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 237,650, dated February 8,1881. Application filed June 18, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,3WILLIAM A. WIoKs, of the city of Baltimoreand State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Can- Soldering Machines, of which the followingis a specification; and I do hereby declare that in the'same is contained a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in a machine for soldering thelongitudinal seams of sheet-metal cans, and particularly that class of cans in which the body is flared at its ends to receive the heads.

In the ordinary manufacture of sheet-metal cans the body-blank is first made cylindrical in shape by means of rolls. It is then drawn tightly around a cylindrical block or mandrel of a certain size, and while it is held in this position =by'means of a knife the sold erin g-tool is applied to the seam. The objection to this well-knowirmethod is that while the can-bodies arebrought-interiorly to a uniform size their exterior diameters varyon accountof tin-plate not being of a common "thickness. Incans wherein the heads are fitted over the ends of the body this variationin the exterior diameter of the body is a fruitful source of annoyance, and causes loss of time in the manipulation of the can bodies and heads in effecting their proper attachment before soldering. In canshaving flared ends into which the heads are-fitted absolute accuracy of size of the flared ends is not attainable bythe use of cylindrical mandrels alone, as the offset of the ends is not uniform.

One object of my invention is therefore to obtain the desired size of the ends of the canbody without respect to that of the-central portion of the can, which is of minor importance.

In carrying out my invention I employa table mounted on a vertical shaft and adapted to be revolved either by hand or steam power, upon the upper surfaceof which are secured a series of oylindricalmandrels, over which the unsoldered can-bodies are placed. The said mandrels are fitted with spring clamping devices for holding the bodies in position,.and with mechanism which in the operation of the machine reduces the ends of the said bodies to an enlarged scale. 'view of a part of the the requisite size. The can-bodies are soldered by the application to their lapped edges of a heated soldering-block having projections on its under side, which pass through slots in the said spring clamping devices and come in contact with the solder and the sheet metal. The can-body, previous to the application thereto of the soldering-block, is reduced to the proper diameter by the forcing of its ends into annular \I-shaped grooves, and the body is held in this position until the completion of the soldering operation. a

The machine is also providedwith mechanism for effecting the disengagement of the spring clamping devices when the can-bodies are to be placed upon or taken off the'cylindrical mandrels, and with suitable oont -rivances for actuating the parts of the machineabove described at the proper times.

In the further description of my said invention-which follows reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forminga part hereof, and in which Figure I is a partly-sectional side view of the can-soldering machine. Fig. II is an exterior view of themachine as seen from a different point. Fig.1II is a plan of the invention. .Figs. IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII are views of parts of the machine on Fig. XIII is a perspective invention, which is shown in an inverted position.

Similar lettersof reference indicate similar parts in all the views.

A is the frame of the machine.

3 is a table mounted on a shaft, a, and

adapted to be revolved either by hand or steam power, in which latter case suitable mechanism is employed to effect an intermittent rotary movement of the table and hold the same during the soldering operation.

0 Care cylindrical mandrels of a diameter slightly less than that of a can-body, secured in any appropriate manner to the upper surface of the table B. The table B, as shown, is designed to have eight mandrels; but in order to avoid complication of lines two only are represented in the drawings. The upper part of the mandrel upon which the lapped edges of the can-body rests is provided with slots a to reduce its surface, and thereby obviate to some extent the tendency of the mandrel to conduct heat from the can-body as the soldering-block is applied thereto. The inner ends of the mandrels O are flanged, and the flanges have a V-shaped groove, a, of a mean diameter equal to that to which the ends of the cans are to be reduced.

D is a disk or head corresponding in size and character of its grooving to the flanges of the mandrels. The headD is attached to a stem, 1), which has a horizontal reciprocating movement in suitable bearings c, and its position, when not in contact with its actuating mechanism, is at such distance from the center of the table B as to admit of the free revo lution of the said table with the cylindrical mandrels C. To maintain this position of the head D its stem has a spring, (1, which is applied thereto as shown.

The spring clamping devices before alluded to consist of skeleton-plates E, having lugs d, to which the'outer ends of the levers G are pivoted. The inner ends of the said levers are sustained by springs 0. By constructing the plate E of skeleton form, or with transverse slots 0, as shown, the lapped edges of the can-body are held firmly together, while the seam is sufficiently exposed to allow of the efficient application thereto of the solderingblock F, which has projections 0, connected by a rib, c, on its under side, fitted to pass through the said slots and melt the solder.

It will be understood that the projections c" and the ribs 0' of the soldering-block F are formed by recessing the said block from the face thereof toward the back, where it is connected to the bar L. (See perspective view of block F, Fig. XIII.)

The inner end of the levers (Jr may be depressed, when moved to a position diametrically opposite the soldering-block, by means of an arm, H, projecting from a rod,H, which rod passes longitudinally through the shaft a, and is sustained by a spring. The preferred manner of depressing the levers G and elevating the clamps is by the application of the foot of the operator to a treadle, H, connected to the rod H, as shown.

Parts of the invention not yet alluded to will be described and their uses set forth in the description of the operation of the machine which follows. The attendant, who is seated at the machine diametrically opposite the solderingbloek, depresses the treadle, which effects the elevation of the spring-clamp in front of him, and places an unsoldered canbody on the cylindrical mandrel. The treadle is then released, when the spring-clamp descends and holds the body firmly in place. A piece of wire-solder, when such solderis used, is then inserted in the longitudinal slot or space between the approaching ends of the bars *5 in the spring-clamp. It will be understood that while the ean-body is being placed on its mandrel and the wire-solder applied to its longitudinal scam the table is at rest.

In the revolution of the table the cylindrical mandrels carrying the can-bodies are successively brought under the soldering-block F, which is heated by a gas-flame, and while a can-body is held in that position the ends thereof are forced into the grooves in the flange of the mandrel and the head I), which operation reduces the flared edges of the body to the desired diameter. After the reduction to size of the can-body,and during the time that the said body is held by the grooved flange and head, the heated soldering-block descends and liquefies the solder, thereby completing the seam. In the continued operation of the actuating mechanism of the machine the heated soldering-block is withdrawn from contact with the can-body, after which the compressing disk or head D is sprung outwardly and the cylindrical mandrel, with the soldered body still clamped thereon, moved toward the operator.

Various contrivauces may be employed to effect the movement of the table, the com pressing-head, and soldering-block; but the preferred mechanism for communicating motion to the two latter elements of the machine consists as follows: A cam, I, is secured to a shaft, 1., and revolved by a driving-shaft, I, through the medium of the miter gear-wheels I. The said cam is confinedin ayoke,K,formin g a part of a bar, L, which bar is yieldingly supported by a spiral sprin g, f, at its lower end. The bar L, at its upper end, is attached to the solderingblock, which is alternately depressed to comein contact with the can-body by the action of the can, and'elevated by the spiral spring f. An absolute movement of the soldering-block toward the seam cannot, however, be arranged to give a proper pressure on the lapped edges of the can-body. I therefore interpose a spring, g, between the cam and the lower part of the cam-yoke, which spring is compressed slightly after the soldering-block reaches the seam. By this means the action of the soldering-block is similar to that of a soldering-tool held in the hand.

The compressing disk or head D is operated, in advance of the contact of the solderingblock with the can, by means of a projecting spring-strip, h, attached at one end to the bar L. This strip is sufficiently rigid to efl'ect the required motion of the head D, but at the same time its slight flexibility prevents the crushing of the can.

The action of the transverse bars 13 formed in the skeleton-plates E, whether the said bars are divided longitudinally to admit of the application to the seam of solder in the form of wire, or continuous, as indicated by the dotted lines, Figs. IX and X, difi'ers from that of the knife ordinarily used, in that the extreme upper edge of the can-body is held firmly down during the soldering operation. By the close contact of the edges of the can-body, resulting from the action of the transverse bars 1' of the plate E on the seam during the soldering operation, less solder is required to effect a perfect joint, and a smoother seam is produced.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the mandrel G, which is slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the can, is not used as a gaging device, but as a support for the lapped edges of the can-body during the application thereto of the soldering-block.

I claim as my invention 1. In a can-soldering machine, a revoluble table, a mandrel having a grooved flange at one end thereof secured to the said table, and a skeleton-clamp adapted to rest yieldingly on the said mandrel, combined With a movable head for the mandrel, having a groove in its face corresponding to'aud opposing that in the said flange, and mechanism for effecting a movement of the said head toward and from the said mandrel, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. In a can-soldering machine, a revoluble table, a mandrel having a grooved flange at one end thereof, secured to the said table, and a skeleton-olamp adapted to rest yieldingly on the said mandrel, combined with a solderingblock having projections on its face adapted to pass through the apertures in the skeletonclamp, a movable head for the mandrel having a groove in its face corresponding to and opposing that in the said flange and mechanism for effecting a movement of the said head toward and from the said mandrel and a similar motion of the said soldering-block, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

3. In a machine for soldering the longitudinal seam of a can-body, a supporting-mandrel for the said body, having a projecting flange grooved to receive and gage one end of the said body, combined with a similarly-grooved head or disk adapted to receive and gage the other end of the said body, and mechanism to effect the approach and separation of the grooved surfaces, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

4. In combination with the mandrel O, the plate E, having the transverse barsi and slots 6, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

5. In combination with the mandrel O and skeleton-plate E, having the transverse bars 2' and slots 6. the soldering-block F, having projections on its face adapted to pass through the said slots, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

XVILLIAM A. WIGKS.

Witnesses:

J NO. T. MADDOX, HARRY V. ALBAUGH. 

